POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 28, 2015) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team honored its two seniors Wednesday evening on Senior Night, but couldn't pull out the match as the Brewers fell to local rival New Paltz in three games in action from Kenyon Hall. VC fell with scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-23.

The night was all about seniors Chloe Hallum (Olympia, WA/Olympia) and Paige Benson (Elk Grove, CA/Bradshaw Christian School), who were recognized before the match for their hard work and dedication to the program. Once the match was underway, the pair wasted no time playing great in the back row.

The senior duo chalked up a combined 36 digs on the night, including a game-best 29 from Hallum. Benson tied her career-high in defensive saves, as she totaled seven ups on the match while playing in two of the three sets.

Vassar (13-14) took an early lead in the first set, scoring seven of the first nine points thanks to the play from sophomore Sophia Tiajoloff (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon). Tiajoloff contributed on five of those seven points, tallying two blocks, a kill and two assists. New Paltz (19-9) used a 9-2 run through the middle of the set though to take a four-point advantage. VC twice cut the lead to three, but would get no closer as New Paltz earned the first set.

The second game was nip and tuck early on, with the visiting Hawks leading 16-14 after the first half of the set. New Paltz slowly increased its lead to as much as eight at 24-16, hitting .257 for the set in taking a 2-0 match lead.

The third game was very exciting, as both teams had long runs, including a pair of 5-0 spurts by the Brewers. The second 5-0 run forced New Paltz to take a timeout, and VC continued to fend off the Hawks, holding a 22-20 lead. New Paltz scored the next four points to force match point, and after VC held off one attempt to end the match, a kill by Morgan Roessler helped the visitors to the match victory.

Freshman Devan Gallagher (San Francisco, CA/Urban School of San Francisco) led a balanced attack with a match-high nine kills, as eight players had at least one termination. Tiajoloff finished with five kills and 10 assists, while sophomore Bria Corham (Kansas City, MO/Montville Township (NJ)) added six kills, six digs and two assisted blocks.

Newcomer Annie MacMillan (Colorado Springs, CO/Coronado) had a solid all-around match with 20 assists and six digs, and Gabby Miller (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) came off the bench to register six terminations and six digs. Vassar hit .098 (36-22-143) on the night, but didn't post a service ace on the evening. It was the first time since September 14, 2013 that the Brewers did not serve an ace.

Vassar will finish its season Saturday afternoon at Brandies University, taking on Babson College at noon before ending the 2015 campaign against the host Judges at 2 p.m. in non-conference play.